John McCain made his own remarkable political comeback with a comfortable win in the Republican contest.

In a night of high political drama, turnout was nearly half a million - more than double the number in 2004.

Candidates are aiming to build momentum before more than 20 states hold polls on 5 February, known as Super Tuesday.

New York Senator Clinton, 60, told CNN on Wednesday morning: "I really believed that I had a very good chance - nobody else believed it - but I did, and I'm very grateful to the people of New Hampshire for giving me that victory last night."

Resurrection

Her rebound echoed that by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, who in New Hampshire's primary of 1992 called himself the "comeback kid" when his own faltering White House bid was resurrected by a strong, second place finish in the state.

Triumph for Mr McCain, a 71-year-old former Vietnam prisoner of war who has promised voters to "follow Osama Bin Laden to the gates of hell", put him firmly back in contention for the White House, said correspondents.

He thanked his supporters, saying: "My friends, you know I'm past the age where I can claim the noun 'kid', no matter what adjective precedes it. But tonight we sure showed 'em what a comeback looks like."

Mr McCain had been the front-runner until his campaign ran out of steam last year when his funds and support evaporated, analysts said, down to his unflinching support for the Iraq war.

Former Massachusetts governor Mr Romney congratulated Mr McCain and said: "Well another silver... I'd rather have a gold, but I got another silver.

The BBC's James Coomarasamy in New Hampshire says a wounded Mr Romney must now bounce back from his Iowa and New Hampshire defeats, states where he far outspent his opponents.